Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-stage membrane filtration process for reconcentrating the overspray from a one-component, aqueous coating composition containing high molecular weight components having a weight average molecular weight of at least 2000 and at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the organic components of the coating composition, of a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight of less than 2000, that has been diluted with spray booth water from spray booths having wet flushing to form a booth/water overspray mixture by a) preconcentrating the booth water/overspray mixture in an ultrafiltration unit to obtain a first retentate containing high molecular weight components and a first permeant containing water and at least a portion of the low molecular weight components, b) treating said first permeant and the third permeant obtained in step c) below in a reverse osmosis unit to obtain a second permeant containing essentially pure water for recycle as booth water and a retentate containing low molecular weight components, c) treating said first and second retentates in a nanofiltration unit to obtain a third permeant containing water and a minor portion of low molecular weight components and a third retentate which largely corresponds in composition and concentration to said one-component, aqueous coating composition.

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First Claim